Curling comes at relatively modest cost

KAKABEKA FALLS — Turns out you don't need to wield a broom or throw a stone as well as Kerri Einarson or Rachel Homan to rock the rink — if your end goal is just a little fun and exercise.

That's the thinking behind a beginners curling course being offered specifically for adults by the Kakabeka Falls Curling Club later this month.
"I myself didn't start curling until I was in my mid-20s," club vice-president Andrew Sinclair admitted on Tuesday.

Once newcomers master the art of not falling over as they send a rock down an ice sheet, Sinclair said he's pretty confident they'll become as hooked on the sport as he did, along with other long-time enthusiasts.

Though he allowed: "It's not as easy as it looks on TV."

The other advantage of the Canadian winter pastime is the modest cost compared with other sports, like hockey or golf, for example.

"It's a very minimal (financial) outlay," Sinclair said. "All you really need is a clean pair of shoes."

Though many curlers eventually opt to purchase their own brooms once they have the hang of things — sometimes for several hundred dollars — most clubs provide them to beginners free of charge.

The Kakabeka Falls adult "learn to curl" course starts on Oct. 22. It's offered on Tuesdays for four weeks. The cost is $50, plus HST.

More information is available on the club's website at kakabeka.curling.io.